Vulnerability of wheat sector to climate change

Introduction

The climate in Kazakhstan’s main farming areas provides the preconditions for possible droughts, hot winds, late spring and early autumn frosts and other weather conditions unfavorable for agriculture.

Changing hydrothermal conditions during the growing season influence the occurrence of different diseases of cereal crops due to which the grain quality and harvest may worsen.

There are sufficient land and climate resources for growing the main crops in Kazakhstan. However, harvest losses due to poor weather conditions in some years may reach 50 to 70% in the region. If current trends in global and regional climate change continue supply the whole population with food may become a serious problem.

The project will demonstrate the implications of climate risk to the region’s food security, and will work to ensure that climate change adaptation becomes pivotal in agricultural decision-making processes at the regional, national and local levels.

Expected outcomes

Improved Monitoring and Information Sharing for Climate-Resilient Wheat Production (Kazakhstan);

Climate Resilience Developed Through Mainstreaming of Adaptation Measures (Kazakhstan);